Residents urge West Chicago to bar federal immigration agents from using city property

During public participation, several residents urged the council to take action after what they described as heightened immigration enforcement activity in town.

A speaker identified during public comment asked the council to "act now before more families are torn apart" and urged the city to ensure it does not "indirectly help by allowing ICE to use city property or resources to assemble and to prepare for operations that target our community." The commenter pointed to Cook and Will counties' ordinances as models and asked West Chicago to consider similar protections.

Another resident, Jennifer Scarface, described seeing two ICE agents approach a door, later observing the same vehicle parked in the police department lot, and said the appearances and tactics she witnessed had left community members frightened. "Allowing this to happen, allowing them to come in and use city facilities, that makes us complicit," Scarface said, and cited Chicago’s "ICE‑free zone" executive order as an example local leaders could use to limit agency access to city property.

Mayor Daniel Boving responded that local authorities do not participate in ICE operations and described daily coordination with local partners and the state's attorney to clarify legal options. He noted the city follows the Trust Act and that staff have convened legal briefings; he did not commit the council to a specific ordinance tonight but said staff will continue discussions and that a DuPage mayors' meeting will address the issue later in the week.

The council did not put forward a motion or ordinance during this meeting; the mayor emphasized open communication and continued legal review.